DECISION MEMO. Rawhide Trail #7073 Maintenance and Reconstruction

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1 Page 1 of 6 Background DECISION MEMO USDA Forest Service Jefferson Ranger District Jefferson County, Montana Rawhide Trail #7073 is located in the Elkhorn Mountain Range approximately 10 miles east of Boulder in T6N, R3W sections 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, and 18. The project is located in the Elkhorn Landscape that is jointly administered with the Helena National Forest (see attached map). The trail is open to ATVs and motorcycles with seasonal use restrictions. No change to the travel management, season of use, or vehicle type is proposed. The trail is not located in an Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). It is open to motorized and non-motorized uses except for a seasonal closure during the fall big game hunting season and closed yearlong to full-size vehicles. Purpose and Need Sections of the current trail do not meet Forest Service design standards for trails to protect resources and minimize long-term maintenance. Some segments require relocation and new construction to address steep grades and unsafe switchbacks. Maintenance in other sections is needed to improve existing structures including, but not limited to, turnpikes, water bars, drain dips, stream fords, and signs. Proposal We proposal to complete maintenance and construction activities along 3.7 miles of the existing trail from the Rawhide Trailhead to McCarty Trailhead, near Turnely Meadows, in the Elkhorn Mountain Range. The project includes trail maintenance to improve existing structures including switchbacks, waterbars, drain dips, turnpikes, signs, three bridges, and a puncheon. New trail construction is proposed to replace eroded sections of the trail that have steep grades and unsafe switchbacks. The trail would be reconstructed with a 48-inch tread to meet all Forest Service trail construction specifications. Decision I have decided to approve the maintenance and construction activities along approximately 3.7 miles of Rawhide Trail #7073 in T6N, R3W sections 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, and 18. The project includes trail maintenance to improve existing structures including switchbacks, waterbars, drain dips, turnpikes, signs, three bridges, and a puncheon. New trail construction is proposed to replace eroded sections of the trail that have steep grades and unsafe switchbacks. The trail would be reconstructed with a 48-inch tread to meet all Forest Service trail construction specifications.

2 Page 2 of 6 Mitigation and Design Features Required by This Decision: Heritage To maintain the historic integrity of the Rawhide trail occasional erosion maintenance will be done. The trail tread will be left intact but woody debris will be placed across the trail to discourage motorized use. Heritage staff will complete further documentation such as photographs of the trail as recommended by the Montana State Historic Preservation Officer (MSHPO). Soils Abandoned trail segments will be blocked to prevent use or obliterated and revegetated if the trail does not qualify for historic trail designation. Erosion will be controlled on segments designated as historic with drainage structures and placement of slash on the road surface. Abandoned segments will also be seeded with native vegetation to further reduce erosion and aid recovery to the productive soil base. Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Proposed Action An action may be categorically excluded from further analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment (EA) if it is within one of the categories identified by the USDA in 7 CFR part 1b.3 or 7 CFR part 1b.3 or 36 CFR 220.6(d) or (e), and there are no extraordinary circumstances related to the decision that may result in a significant individual or cumulative effect on the quality of the human environment. This project has been reviewed in accordance with FSH Chapter 30. I have determined the project fits the following category: 36 CFR 220.6(e)(1): (1) Construction and reconstruction of trails (36CFR220.6(e)(1) My decision is based on a review of the project record that shows a thorough review of relevant scientific information, a consideration of responsible opposing views, and the acknowledgement of incomplete or unavailable information. The record includes the following resource specialist reports: Biological Assessments and Evaluations for Wildlife, Botany, and Aquatics Tribal and Heritage Resource findings Soils Report Hydrology Report Recreation Report Scenery Report By definition, categorical exclusions do not individually or cumulatively have significant effects on the human environment (40 CFR ). Resource specialists considered direct and indirect effects from the proposed action coupled with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions. I have examined the proposed action and the effects analyses disclosed in the resource specialist reports listed above and have concluded that without notable individual effects from the proposed action, there would be no discernable cumulative effects. The interdisciplinary team reviewed the resource conditions listed in FSH Chapter 30 (31.2) and other concerns applicable to this project to determine whether any extraordinary circumstances exist. The mere presence of one or more of the resource conditions listed below does not preclude the use of a categorical exclusion. It is the existence of a cause-effect relationship between a proposed action and the potential effect on

3 Page 3 of 6 these resource conditions and if such a relationship exists, the degree of potential effect of a proposed action on these resource conditions that determine whether extraordinary circumstances exist. The resource specialist reports have provided the necessary information to make a determination on the causeeffect relationship between the proposed action and the potential effect on the resource conditions listed below and thus the presence of extraordinary circumstances, as summarized below: RESOURCE CONDITION Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species. Floodplains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds Congressionally designated areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Inventoried Roadless Areas Research Natural Areas American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas. POTENTIAL EFFECT Threatened or Endangered Species: There would be no effect to the threatened grizzly bear. No Impact all other Sensitive terrestrial, aquatic, and plant species. No negative impacts to the municipal watershed, floodplains, or wetlands are projected. No congressionally designated areas occur in or near the project; therefore no negative impacts to any congressionally designated areas are projected. There are no inventoried roadless areas within the project area. Therefore, no negative impacts to any inventoried roadless areas are projected. There are no research natural areas within the project area. Therefore, no negative impacts to any research natural areas are projected. To maintain the historic integrity of the Rawhide trail occasional erosion maintenance will be done. The trail tread will be left intact but woody debris will be placed across the trail to discourage motorized use. Heritage staff will complete further documentation of the trail as recommended by the Montana State Historic Preservation Officer (MSHPO). Following these design features potential adverse impacts to religious, cultural, or archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas are not anticipated. A categorical exclusion is appropriate in this situation because the proposed action fits within the category described above and there are no extraordinary circumstances present. Scoping and Public Involvement The project was first published on the SOPA in November The proposal was first provided to interested members of the public and other agencies for scoping from February 23, 2012 through March 9, No responses were received. A second proposal was provided to interested members of the public and other agencies for scoping from November 8, through December 9, No responses were received..

4 Page 4 of 6 Forest Plan Direction The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires the development of long-range land and resource management plans. The Plan was approved in 2009 and provides guidance for all natural resource management activities on the. NFMA also requires that all projects and activities be consistent with the plans. The decision is consistent with Forest Plan direction including all applicable standards. Forestwide Goals and Objectives: Rawhide Trail #7073 is located in the Elkhorn Landscape. Management Areas in this landscape are jointly administered by the Helena National Forest. Management direction will be updated during revision of the Helena National Forest Plan. (FP page 125). Under the Helena National Forest Plan Rawhide Trail #7073 is located within the Helena National Forest Plan Management Area Elkhorn 4. Portions of this management area have resource characteristics that are similar to management area C-7 in the Deerlodge Forest Plan. (Helena FP page E4 III/90). Management goals for Elkhorn 4 include: Provide for other resource objectives as long as these uses are compatible with maintaining big game habitat. (Helena FP page E4 III/90). Rawhide Trail #7073 is located in management area Elkhorn 4. Management standards for Elkhorn 4 include: A variety of dispersed recreation activities area permitted and may be supported by constructing trails and trailhead facilities (Helena FP page E4 III/90). Forestwide Desired Condition: Visitor benefit from a range of primitive to developed recreation settings and opportunities. Most of the BDNF continues to offer uncrowded motorized and non-motorized backcountry opportunities. (FP page 11). Recreation and Travel Management Goal for Recreation Opportunities: High quality diverse outdoor recreation opportunities are provided, including but not limited to: Trails and routes for autos, four-wheel-drive vehicles, ATVs, motorcycles, mountain bikes, horses, and hikers to high mountain lakes and other features (FP, page 31); Recreation and Travel Management Goal for Road and Trail use: A system of routes and areas designated for non-motorized and motorized use are identified and available for public use (FP, page 31). Findings Required by Law National Forest Management Act - The Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) was approved in 2009, as required by this Act. The Forest Plan has been reviewed in consideration of this project and the project meets all applicable management direction found in the 2009 Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Plan including consistency with all applicable standards. Endangered Species Act - See the Reasons for Categorically Excluding the Proposed Action Section of this document for a summary of the effects of this project to Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate Species. The summary is based on a more thorough analysis available in the project record. This project is consistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

5 Page 5 of 6 Sensitive Species (Forest Service Manual 2670) - This direction requires analysis of potential impacts to sensitive species and the Regional Forester approved the sensitive species list on January 4, Our review of the potential effects of this decision upon the sensitive species has been completed and the analysis documented in the project file and Resource Condition Table above. Environmental Justice (Executive Order 12898) - This Order requires consideration of whether projects would disproportionately affect minority or low-income populations in or around the project area. Based on internal review and public scoping, the proposed action did not identify any adversely impacted local minority or lowincome populations. Clean Water Act The intent of the Act is to restore and maintain the integrity of waters. The Forest Service complies with this Act through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs). This decision incorporates Best Management Practices to ensure protection of soil and water resources and complies with the Clean Water Act and State water quality standards. Clean Air Act Under this Act, areas of the country were designated as Class I, II or III airsheds for Prevention of Significant Deterioration purposes. There will be no air quality impacts as a result of this decision. The National Historic Preservation Act As discussed earlier in this document and in detail in the project file, impacts to cultural resources are not expected. Migratory Bird Treaty Act There will be no known substantial losses of migratory bird habitat expected from the implementation of this proposal. National Environmental Policy Act - This Act requires public involvement and consideration of potential environmental effects. This document and the project record provide documentation for this decision which supports compliance with this Act (See Section II of this document). Other Laws or Requirements The proposed action is consistent with all other Federal, State, and/or local laws or requirements. Administrative Review or Appeal Opportunities This decision is not subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215. Implementation Date Consistent with 36 CFR 215, implementation may begin immediately, and is expected to commence in June of 2013.

6 Page 6 of 6 Contact Person Supporting documentation for this decision is available for public review at the Jefferson Ranger District, 3 Whitetail Road, Whitehall, MT Further information about the decision can be obtained from the Jefferson Ranger District during normal office hours (weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at Whitehall, Montana; by phone: (406) ; by mail at 3 Whitetail Road, Whitehall, MT 59759; or by to Jocelyn Dodge jdodge@fs.fed.us. Responsible Official David A. Sabo January 25, 2013 DAVID A. SABO District Ranger Jefferson Ranger District Date